Category Archives: DJ/LIVE DATES

DECADE DUBS: CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF BEDMO DISCO

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It was 10 years ago this month that we put out our very first record, a collection of “wrong reworks from Bristol, England” entitled Bedmo Disco Volume 1. That collection, crafted by Five-Stylez and myself (he did the hard work – I mostly barked instructions), marked the beginning of the Bedmo Disco story.

A decade on, much has changed – Bedmo Disco has been a trio, with the addition of our good pal, fine DJ and superb producer Awon, for over six years – but we’re still as enthusiastic, passionate and excitable as ever.

This weekend, we’re beginning our 10th birthday celebrations in earnest via a joint party with the boys from Bodywork, one of the best parties in Bristol over recent years. The event at the Crofters Rights on Saturday, May 6th has been created to draw attention to Soundwave Croatia, the superb summer festival we’ve been playing at since the tail end of the noughties. Alongside the Bodywork crew, we’ll be playing at the festival again this July. At Saturday’s party, we’ll be joined behind the decks by two other Soundwave-bound DJs, former Bristol resident Harri Pepper (Slix Disco/Stamp The Wax) and Yadava, one of the resident DJs behind Manchester’s essential So Flute party.

Given that this is kicking off our 10th anniversary, we thought it would be good to do something a little different; something that showcases some of the music we’ve made, released and re-edited, but is a little more dynamic than a straight-up DJ set. So, over the last few weeks and months, we’ve developed a special show entitled “DECADE DUBS”. We will debut this decks, hardware and effects workout on Saturday night. Sadly, Five-Stylez can’t make it – though he will be involved in future performances – so it will just be Awon and myself dashing between portable samplers, gadgets and the twin Technics 1210s.

So what is “DECADE DUBS”? Naturally, we don’t want to give too much away in advance, but it’s a semi-improvised performance created using loops samples from music that’s been released on Bedmo Disco Records and Pointless Edits over the years, previously unreleased “secret weapons” (Awon’s superb “Saxy Time”, for starters), specially created re-edits, and new interpretations of a couple o well-known tunes. Like a live show, there is a set-list, but there’s a lot of flexibility for jamming and spontaneous changes of direction within that. You won’t be surprised to hear that it’s heavy and synth-laden, for the most part, and includes a few cheeky surprises that we think dancers will really respond to.

We’d naturally love it if you could make it on Saturday to check out what we’ve been working on. It’s no lie to say that we’ve been living and breathing DECADE DUBS for the last six weeks, first getting together the elements to play around with, and then working them into the kind of seamless, non-stop show that puts the needs of dancers first and foremost.

If you’re lucky, we’ll post a couple of previews on social media in the days to come. In the meantime, head over to Facebook to find out more about the party.

SELL BY DAVE, 03/05/17

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NEWS: BEDMO DISCO PRESENTS JD TWITCH AT THE SMALL HORSE INN

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Here’s something you wouldn’t want to miss: a rare chance to see Optimo’s JD Twitch flying solo behind the decks in Bristol. As you can see from the handy graphic above, the party takes place this Friday (October 9th) at The Small Horse Inn on Small Street, the new late night drinking/dancing establishment from Team Love (the people behind The Love Inn, the Love Saves The Day festival, Love International in Croatia, and loads more besides).

When we originally put the event together, it was due to take place at The Doghouse, and some listings may still state this as the location. However, we lost confidence in the management of the Doghouse and decided to switch it to The Small Horse Inn, which opened last weekend. We’re familiar with the space already, as it was previously Native and Big Chill Bristol, where we hosted many other Bedmo Disco Presents parties. To become the Small Horse, the space has had a total makeover, with a freshly tuned and re-built sound system that was sounding particularly impressive on its’ opening weekend. Certainly, we’re excited about the possibilities of the space, and with its’ intimate layout, it should make for a great atmosphere on Friday night.

Twitch himself should need little introduction. Keith McIvor, as his close friends and family call him, began his DJ career in Edinburgh at the turn of the 1990s, where he was resident at now legendary house/techno night Pure. It’s for Optimo [Espacio] and spin-off labels Optimo Music/Optimo Trax that he’s best known. The Optimo parties at Glasgow’s Art School (and these days Sub Club, amongst other places) are the stuff of legend, and feature Keith and DJ partner Jonny Wilkes joining the dots between a multitude of sounds and styles whilst focusing on the dance floor. It’s for this reason that Optimo has attracted a cult following around the world, and why finding a spare date in their packed gig schedule is tricky, to say the least. It’s also why we were so keen to get Keith down to play for us; you know he’ll get it right, get the party going, and play music that makes you go “WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?!” whilst still dancing your ass off.

Upstairs in what the venue is calling “The Lodge”, you’ll find Legendary Tone and Spice Route delivering mellower flavours, whilst keeping an eye on the dance floor. Both have amazing record collections, and will play some killer material.

There are no advanced tickets for this, and it will be first come, first served on the door. Entrance is £3/4, though the venue is open from late afternoon, so those who are really keen could turn up before we start at 10pm for a few free-drinks and avoid the charge. Either way, we’d advise being down before midnight (and ideally 11.30pm) to guarantee entry. It will be worth the effort, though – Keith will absolutely smash it, we’re sure.

Should you want something to get you in the mood for Friday night’s revelry, Sell By Dave has put together an all-vinyl mix of dance floor treats for the Wax Exchange crew. You can stream it via the Soundcloud player below.

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NEWS: THREE MORE CHANCES TO DANCE (LIKE YOU MEAN IT)

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The festive period is upon us, and that means a whole load more chances to “dance like you mean it”, as Bedmo Disco hit the Christmas and New Year period hard. This time, there are no headline guest DJs in tow – just Awon, Sell By Dave and Five-Stylez mixing up the good time grooves, obscure disco and boogie jams, unreleased re-edits and secret weapons.

Here’s what we’re up to over the next few weeks…

FRIDAY 19th DECEMBER – BEDMO DISCO PRESENTS CHRISTMAS PARTY @ BIG CHILL BRISTOL
Six hours of us mixing it up for your drinking and dancing pleasure. Expect a mixed-up, floor-friendly selection of gems from the depths of our ever-growing record collections. There’s free entry to this one all night long… get in!

WEDNESDAY 31st DECEMBER – COLSTON HALL NYE SWING DANCE (MAISON PARADISO COCKTAIL LOUNGE) @ COLSTON HALL, BRISTOL
This New Year’s Eve, we’ll be providing the music in The Lantern, the smaller venue attached to Colston Hall, as part of their “NYE Swing Dance”. We’ve teamed up with Maison Paradiso and will be keeping things lively in their room, dropping a party-friendly mix of disco, boogie, house, classics and occasional random drunken selections.

SATURDAY 3rd JANUARY, 2015 – BEDMO DISCO  @ BIG CHILL BRISTOL
To celebrate the start of our new Saturday night residency at Big Chill Bristol (the first Saturday of every month, kids) we’ll be pitching up at our favourite city centre watering hole-turned-intimate club space and playing lots of great music to get you going in 2015. New Year, new you… same old Bedmo Disco!

Join us at least one of these… we can guarantee great music and good times!

aaa

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NEWS: AUNTIE FLO NEXT UP AT ‘BEDMO DISCO PRESENTS…’

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The last few Bedmo Disco Presents… sessions at Big Chill Bristol have been pretty special. September’s session with Alexander Nut was memorable for all the right reasons, while Daniel Wang’s set at our Halloween party was a thing of rare beauty – a dance floor disco and house mix that kept us guessing throughout. We think our next event, featuring the one and only AUNTIE FLO, will be one of most memorable yet.

If you’re unfamiliar with the distinctive sound of Glaswegian in London Auntie Flo (AKA DJ/producer/musician Brian D’Souza), then you’re missing out. D’Souza is one of the UK’s foremost purveyors of 21st century global fusion, where rhythms from Africa, South America, the Caribbean, the Middle East and Asia are paired with the unmistakable pulse of house, techno and disco. He was instrumental in setting up Glasgow’s acclaimed HIGHLIFE parties, alongside HUNTLEYS & PALMERS label boss Andrew Thompson. The two collaborate on HIGHLIFE EDITS, an offshoot of H&P that delivers shit-hot reworks of obscure Afro-disco, Afro-funk and Middle Eastern records.

As a producer, D’Souza has been on great form for some time. Following his breakthrough single, the brilliant ‘Highlife’/’Goa’, he’s released a superb full-length on Huntleys & Palmers and subsequent singles for Permanent Vacation, Kompakt Extra and others. He’s also a regular contributor to JD Twitch’s Autonomous Africa project, which raises money for projects in sub-Saharan Africa. He also performs impressive Auntie Flo live shows alongside regular studio collaborator Esa.

For his appearance in Bristol, he’ll be taking to the decks and delivering a set that joins the dots between a myriad of global styles and 21st century “Western” dance music. Expect tropical rhythms, heavy basslines and percussion for days. Oh, and plenty of sweaty dancefloor moments!

In addition, we’ve enlisted Rough Draft bossman and all round badman DJ ELDRIDGE to take care of duties in the study. Expect a lesson in crate digging as he drops a vinyl-only selection of jams from across the musical spectrum.

Supporting Auntie Flo downstairs will be Bedmo Disco (that’s Awon, Sell By Dave and Five-Stylez to you).

With our usual sound system tweaks and extra speakers, Big Chill Bristol will be sounding better than ever. The last few parties have been chock-a-block, so arrive early to guarantee entry. Remember: it’s free before 11pm, then £3 after. 

To get you in the mood, here’s a taste of Auntie Flo in action, in the shape of a vintage Boiler Room excursion from 2012…

 

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MUSIC: NEW BEDMO DISCO “WORKOUT” MIX FOR BODYWORK

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It’s been a while since the last Bedmo Disco mix, and even longer since Sell By Dave, Awon and Five-Stylez all contributed to one. Clearly, we needed an excuse, because last week we put one together for our friends at Bodywork Bristol. They uploaded it to their Soundcloud profile earlier today, and you can find it below.

There is, of course, a good reason they asked us to contribute to their “Workout” series (mixes inspired by working out, trips to the gym, that kind of thing). On Saturday (11th October) they’re hosting what looks to be a particularly tasty party at Basement 45 here in Bristol. The headliner is top notch Canadian selector Eddie C (Endless Flight, African Shakedown, Kolour, Crue-L, Common Edit… the list goes on). In support, you’ll find us playing back-to-back with Bodywork residents Hank Champagne and the Prince of Persia. These guys are top DJs with excellent record collections – as anyone who heard them play at Bedmo Disco Presents… a couple of months back will no doubt agree – so we’re particularly excited about sharing the ones-and-twos with them (and, of course, warming up for Eddie).

You can find out more about the party here and buy tickets (recommended) on Resident Advisor here.

As for the mix, we went in hard on the “workout” tip. It features plenty of samples from our little-known collection of ‘80s workout VHS tapes, plenty of original Italo-disco, some forgotten house gems, a smattering of boogie dubs, a slew of unreleased Bedmo Disco dubs and 30 minutes of shirts-off disco at the end. Oh, and Arnie. We hope you enjoy listening to it as much as we enjoyed putting it together.

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NEWS: WIN TICKETS TO ALEXANDER NUT AT BIG CHILL BRISTOL

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This Friday sees the mighty ALEXANDER NUT head to Bristol to play the latest instalment of Bedmo Disco Presents. We’ve been making a song and dance about this for a while – we’re genuinely excited about the party. We won’t bore you with the usual spiel, but suffice to say we think it will be one of our best yet.

We’ve teamed up with our friends at Don’t Panic to give away a bunch of tickets (well, guest list, as we’re not printing tickets in advance). You can find out all the details and enter by clicking on the link below. Good luck!

Win Tickets to Alexander Nut with Don’t Panic Online

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NEWS: BUMPER AUTUMN LINE-UP FOR BEDMO DISCO PRESENTS

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Ever since we launched our Bedmo Disco Presents… series back in April. we’ve been working hard to put together a strong line-up of guest DJs for our autumn schedule. We’re excited to finally be able to announce the guests for our next three parties. We’re biased, of course, but we think it’s a killer line-up.

First up, on September 29th, we’ll be welcoming Eglo Records boss, Rinse FM DJ and killer party-starter ALEXANDER NUT to Big Chill Bristol. We’ve been enormous fans of Alex’s mixed-up, anything-goes-as-long-as-it’s-soulful approach to DJing since we first heard him play at UFO in Bristol a few years back. We’ve been lucky to dance hard to his sets on numerous occasions since, and he always kills it. For his appearance at Bedmo Disco Presents, Alex will be playing for three hours, joining the dots between boogie, soul, disco, broken beat, modern soul, house, funk, hip-hop, techno futurism and everything in between. It will be deliciously soulful and dancefloor-friendly. Knowing Alex, he’ll also get on the mic, probably after sinking copious amounts of rum. It will undoubtedly be special. While Alex is rocking it downstairs, our old friend OWAIN K from Cardiff will be joining the dots between styles up in the study. He’s an excellent DJ and a talented producer, too, as anyone who has checked his releases on Dessous Recordings will tell you.

Then, on the final Friday in October, we have a very special treat for anyone who loves disco: a return to Bristol for the effervescent DANIEL WANG. Now based in Berlin after years spent earning his stripes in New York, Danny is without doubt one of the finest disco DJs around. His record collection is absurdly deep, and he always gets a party going. He’s only played in Bristol twice before – at UFO first, then at the Motorcycle Showrooms in 2013 – but both times he absolutely killed it. We’re delighted to have him on board, and look forward to hosting him. He’s something of a legend, all told, having spearheaded the first wave of “nu-disco” in the late ’90s and early 2000s – first with his own label, Balihu, and later on Morgan Geist’s Environ imprint. He’s also released material on Ghostly International, while his latest re-edit 12″ under the Otto Gelb alias (simply titled Volume 3) is – predictably – another killer. We’ll write more about Danny and his long career closer to the time.

Finally, in November, we have Huntley’s & Palmers resident AUNTIE FLO. Those with an interest in the modern wave of African-influenced music – and Afro funk and afro0-disco full stop – will know all about the London-based Glaswegian. He’s released a mixture of killer edits (a number on the excellent Highlife Edits series) and original material for the likes of Permanent Vacation, Autonomous Africa and Kompakt Extra. His original music is particularly exciting, as it blends African rhythms with contemporary electronic styles and all manner of global influences. He’s not played in Bristol before as far as we can make out, so it will be thrilling to give him his debut in our fair city.

For all of these parties, we’ll be addressing the sound issues that some have complained about. We’re going to be tweaking the system and repositioning the speakers, with additional stacks, to get a warm, rich sound befitting the quality of the music. We’re heads, and sound is of massive importance. The venue has given us their blessing to do this, and we’re working with sound engineers to get it right. It should enhance what will be great parties.

Don’t forget we’ll also have a 4am licence for these, special guests in the study, and ourselves warming you up and sending you home happy at the end. Oh, and it’s always going to be £3 in, so you can come and “dance like you mean it” without spending a fortune.

We’ll be talking more about our guests and these forthcoming parties on September’s Bedmo Disco Radio, which takes place tomorrow (Tuesday 2nd September) on www.infader.fm, starting at 8pm.

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NEWS: MARCEL VOGEL MIX AT STAMP THE WAX

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We’re sure you’ve not forgotten, but this Sunday – Easter Sunday, kids – sees the launch of our brand new residency at Big Chill Bristol, Bedmo Disco Presents… More excitingly, Sunday’s party also marks the first appearance in Bristol of Lumberjacks in Hell and Intimate Friends bossman MARCEL VOGEL, a man who should need little introduction to those with a passion for disco, boogie and soul-flecked electronic music.

To get us all in the mood for the party, Marcel has kindly done a mix for the great people at STAMP THE WAX. He’s also spoken to them about re-edits, his labels, and his lack of rapping skills. You can check out the interview and mix here >> We’ve also stuck the Soundcloud link below.

More info about the party can be found on the Facebook event page, here >>

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NEWS: GET READY FOR BEDMO DISCO PRESENTS… AT BIG CHILL BRISTOL

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Those who pay attention to our social media feeds – namely Twitter and Facebook – may have spotted our “big news” of the week: we’ve put together a season of parties with very special guests, called Bedmo Disco presents… at Big Chill Bristol. What’s more, the first party is set to take place on Easter Sunday, April 20th.

 

It goes without saying that we’re rather excited about this. When Big Chill Bristol’s general manager came to us and offered us the opportunity to program a series of parties with special guests, we understandably jumped at the opportunity. We spent a lot of time thinking about DJs who would not only fit our vibe, but also that inspire us. DJs who may also be producers or musicians, but first and foremost can rock a party hard while taking us on a journey. We were interested in booking people from that select band of DJs whose style combines an obsessive crate digging mentality with an ability to educate, entertain and, above all else, get the dancefloor rocking.

 

After spending weeks hammering out emails and chatting to DJs, agents and managers on the phone, we’ve put together what we think is a pretty darn tasty line-up of guests. We’re not going to announce them all at once, but suffice to say that our guests come from around the World, including such hotbeds of disco and dance music talent as New York and Amsterdam. We think you’ll be impressed, and you certainly won’t want to miss any of them. You can find the dates of all the forthcoming Bedmo Disco presents at Big Chill Bristol parties here.

 

We’re particularly excited by the launch party, which will take place on April 20th (Easter Sunday). It features a DJ we’ve long admired, Amsterdam legend MARCEL VOGEL.

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Those who pay attention to the contemporary disco scene will have come across Marcel, possibly through his label, Lumberjacks in Hell. It’s one of the few edit-related labels worth bothering with. With strong links to the original Chicago house and disco DJs, as well as top contemporary talent, Lumberjacks in Hell frequently features edits that blur the boundaries between house, disco, boogie and soul. Other labels do this, of course, but few – if any – do it quite as well as Marcel’s imprint. It’s a clear sign of his A&R skills, but also of his own distinct style, which is so evident in his DJ sets – think percussion by the barrow load, hypnotic loops, celebratory builds and moments of thrilling release. He’ll drop original material, but you’ll also find quality cuts that breathe new life into forgotten and little-known gems. Oh, and expect soulful music in all its other forms, be it hip-hop, house, or raw funk.

 

Marcel first got into music as a kid growing up in Germany, compiling tapes from his mum’s record collection and aspiring to be a B-boy. He got into DJing soon after, and as he got older began to put on parties. After moving to Berlin he promoted and acted as resident DJ at the now legendary LEGACY parties between 2003 and 2007. There, he began to develop his now familiar “soulful groove” style, joining the dots between raw disco, boogie, rare groove and house.

 

After spending three years in Switzerland, he moved to Amsterdam in 2010 to learn audio engineering. He became an integral part of the local scene, DJing regularly, hosting parties and promoting his new label, Lumberjacks in Hell. You should know the rest of the story.

 

As we approach the party we’ll post some of his DJ mixes, including one he’s putting together just for us. You’ll be able to hear that on the April edition of our radio show on Invader.fm.

 

The April party, which Marcel is headlining, will follow the same formula as the rest: the Bedmo Disco crew on the warm up, the guest smashing it, and happy faces all round. We can’t wait.

 

These parties will start at 9pm, and be free to get in before 11pm. After that, it’s three quid in. Arrive early, as we have a feeling these events will be roadblocked – after all, it’s not often you get guests of this quality for free, or less than the cost of a pint.

 

Stay tuned for more information. For now, get the dates in your diary. We have guests from New York in June and July, and you definitely won’t want to miss those!

Bedmo Disco presents #001: Marcel Vogel takes place on Sunday April 20th at Big Chill Bristol.

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WIN TICKETS FOR MAISON PARADISO @ KINGS WESTON HOUSE

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How does dancing the night away in a luscious stately home on the outskirts of Bristol sound to you? Pretty good, eh? Well, you’ve got a chance to do just that this Friday night (February 14th) at the first Maison Paradiso event at Kings Weston House. Oh, and we’ve got ten tickets to give away!

It promises to be a magical evening. Maison Paradiso is a new event from Bristol promoter Keda Breezze, who specialises in putting on imaginative, one-off events that mix music, theatre and cinema in stunning locations.

Friday’s event is in two parts; the first is a cocktail reception and three-course meal from pop-up restaurant specialists Mi Casa. That will be followed by a big old party, with Bedmo Disco DJs (Awon, Five-Stylez and Sell By Dave) providing the soundtrack until the early hours. There’s a cocktail bar (staffed by Bristol’s best cocktail barmen and waitresses, no less) and a silent cinema room, if the sweaty disco and boogie party action gets a bit much. Guests are asked to “dress to impress”, giving you a chance to put on your glad rags.

Seriously, we’re really excited about this. It’s not often you get to dance like mad and sip cocktails in a stately home. And Kings Weston is some stately home; Grade 1 listed, it was recently restored to its 18th century glory (it was designed by Sir John Vanbrugh, who also designed Blenheim Palace). It’s located near the Clifton Downs and is just eight minutes by taxi from the city centre.

Sadly, tickets for the dinner and dance are now sold out, but a few tickets are still available for the party, priced at £10. You can get them here.

Now for the exciting bit: we’ve got 10 TICKETS for the party to give away. To be in with a chance of grabbing a ticket (or more), just email us with your name and contact telephone number, stating how many tickets you’re after (perhaps a pair, so you can bring a mate or your partner). We’ll draw the winners at random on Thursday morning (Feb 13th), meaning you’ve got until midnight on Wednesday to get your entries in. Good luck, and hopefully we’ll be seeing you on the dancefloor. Remember: make an effort, it’s going to be a special night!

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